Organizational CultureAdapted from Ed Schein’s work on organizational culture by David W. Jamieson, 1993

Presented to CSUN Mgt 450 – Instructor Jeanne Hartley

Culture is

The milieu of the organization The norms of behavior The patterned set of values and beliefs The personality “The Way We Do Things Around Here”

Culture is important because it: Provides meaning Contributes to identity Establishes coherence and order Shapes and guides behavior Influences organizational success

Components of Culture

Meaning Values:

Collective valuing concerning rightness, success, orientation towards people, management philosophy, fairness, etc.

Beliefs and Assumptions: Closely held perspectives concerning what is real, what

counts, how things happen, how things and people are related, what’s possible, etc.

Components of Culture Manifest

Linguistic: Specific language, jargon, slogans, mottos and acronyms, etc.

Symbolic: Specific artifacts, logos, décor, facilities, causes, ect.

Historic: Specific stories, myths, sagas, legends about founders, key

leaders, heroes “bad guys” Ritualistic:

Special rites, rituals and ceremonies, rewarding behavior celebrating success, etc.

Normative: Rules and norms about what is right, wrong, allowed, ethical,

good, etc.

How is Cultured Embedded and Transmitted? Primary Mechanisms:

What leaders pay attention to, measure, control, react to emotionally.

How leaders react to crises or critical incidents, e.g. insubordination.

Role modeling, teaching, coaching by leaders Criteria for allocating of rewards & status Criteria for recruitment, selection, promotion,

retirement & excommunication

What supports and stabilizes culture? The organization's design and structure Recurring systems and procedures Design of physical space Stories about important people and events Formal statements of organization

philosophy, creeds, charters, etc.

What problems does culture solve? External adoption, survival issues

Means to be used; structures and processes Criteria for measuring results Remedial or repair strategies

Problems culture solves, cont. Internal integration issues

Common language, focus, time and space concepts Group boundaries: criteria for inclusion Stratifications: Criteria for allocation of influence, power and

authority. Peer relationships, criteria for intimacy, friendship, love Criteria for allocation of rewards & punishments

Workable solutions gradually become abstracted into basic underlying assumptions.

Culture – Values in Operation

Evident in policies, systems and practices Can be understood through the use of certain

language, humor, stories, symbols, ceremonies and rituals

What is allowed, condemned and ignored Culture is evident in decision-making,

promotions, inclusion / exclusion